Keshubhai ad creates flutter in party

GUJARAT DECIDES

Has a reluctant Keshubhai Patel swung into action in the run up to the Gujarat assembly elections?

While the Patel strongman and Narendra Modi bete noire has so far refrained from campaigning either in favour of or against the BJP, the rebel leaders' outfit, Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti, today issued advertisements carrying an appeal by Keshubhai that "a change was required".

The advertisement, which took the BJP by surprise, comes at a time when just seven days are left for the crucial first phase of the Assembly polls in the state.

"The advertisement was issued to refresh the memory of the people regarding what Keshubhai Patel had said earlier against Narendra Modi. The advertisement carries verbatim quotes of Keshubhai Patel," said Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti head Gordhan Zadafia.

The advertisement, published in two local dailies here, has quoted Keshubhai as saying that "a dictator has taken over power in the state and time has come to remove him." The half-page advertisement carries 10 quotes of Keshubhai and his photo.

While Keshubhai Patel maintained these were only excerpts of what he stated in the past and he had nothing more to say, his supporters were quite upbeat about the development. It also has an appeal by the Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti which says, "After spending his entire life for Gujarat's society, Keshubhai is very sad. He is not going to participate in BJP's election campaign. He feels that Gujarat is suffering under the present regime. People should think that he has taken this decision with a heavy heart. Don't sit at home... Come out and vote for a change of regime."

The advertisement of the Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti comes after BJP's all out efforts to woo Keshubhai to its side. BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley, who is also in-charge of party affairs in Gujarat, had held a series of meetings with the veteran leader in the recent past with a view to mollify him.

After one such meeting last week, Keshubhai had said that he was with the party and will remain with it and Jaitley had endorsed Patel's views and blessings. However, the next day, rebel leader Suresh Mehta and Kanshiram Rana met Keshubhai at his residence and declared that the veteran leader will not campaign for the BJP.

"Keshubhai is a true BJP loyalist. So he doesn't want to be seen as somebody who is anti-party. But at the same time, he has expressed his displeasure about Narendra Modi's style of functioning time and again. The Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti would not dare issue such an ad without Patel's prior consent," said a senior BJP leader.

The ad has carried statements issued by Patel on a variety of subjects ranging from the Narmada, CM's proximity to the industrialists, power issues, Modi's dictatorial style of functioning among others.

A senior BJP leader told Business Standard that the advertisement will have an impact on voters, especially belonging to the Patel community, in Saurastra region, which is believed to be Patel's stronghold.